Current-collecting device for electric railways



(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER. CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

No. 444,397. Y Patgnted Jan. 1 3 91 t v x Z A z; Y I 13 )(nven for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

CU BRENT-COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

srncrrrcn'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,397, dated January 6, 1891. Application filed September 24, 1890. $erial No. 365,963. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Im provement in Current-Collecting Devices for Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention has reference to current-collecting devices for electric railways; and it 10 consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case 174) has particular I 5 reference to the means for making a traveling contact between aconductor and an electrically-propelled vehicle, and employs magnetic power for maintaining an electric connection between the conductor and collector.

While my invention is applicable to a railway wherein the conductor may be located in any suitable position along the railway and the collector carried by the car in any suitable manner, yet the preferred form of my invention is that in which a suspended conductor is employed with an upwardly-extending current-collector carried above the roof of the car and making an under-running c011- tact with the conductor. The conductor is of magnetic material, and preferably of iron, and may be connected at intervals with a supply-conductor of copper or other good conducting medium. By this means a very light working-conductor may be employed, as its conductivityis not an important factor in the equipment of the railway. The car is provided with an electric motor mechanically connected with the axle, and current is supplied to the motor bymeans of a current-collecting device loosely connected to the top of the car and held in contact with the workingconductor by means of magnetic attraction.

The contact device is formed of an electro or other suitable magnet adapted to hold to .the working-conductor, and is connected with the motor-circuit on the car by a suitable fieXible or movable connection. The magnetic contact, preferably, consists of an electromagnet having a groove or grooves for receiving the conductor, and in which the coils of the electromagnetic contact device have one terminal in connection with the contact and the other terminal connected with the motor-circuit, so that the current flowing to the motor energizes the magnet of the con- 5 5 tact device, making it attract the workingconduetor while traveling along its under sur face. The motor-circuit is provided with a regulator for controlling the current flowing through the motor, and a switch is employed for closing a shunt-circuit around the motor upon cutting the motor out of circuit, so as to maintain the magnetic attraction between the conductor and collector-contact when the motor-circuit is broken. This switch may insert a given resistance simultaneously with removing the motor-resistance from the circuit.

The car may be provided with a lamp-circuit arranged in multiple with respect to the motor and provided with electric lamps for lighting the car. 1f the current-collector consists of an upwardly-extending arm piv'otedly attached to the top of the car the weight of this arm may in a great measure be removed by the employment of a spring or other suit able devioesuch, for instance, as an electromagnetwhich may also be in circuit with the electro-magnetic contact device.

My invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric railway embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the current-collector device. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. t is a plan View of an electro-magnetic contact, and shows its connection with the motor-circuit and regulator; and Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations of modified forms of electromagnetic contacts.

A is the working-conductor, and is preferably formed of iron. This conductor is suspended in any suitable manner from posts D, arranged along the railway F, and is coupled 5 at intervals by branch circuits C with a supply-conductor B of copper or other metal of good conductivity.

E is an electric generator arranged at any suitable place along the railway, and has its terminals connected, respectively, with the supply-conductor B and the rails I G is the car, and is provided with an electric motor H, mechanically connected to 1'0- tate its axle for propelling the car.

I is a motoncircuit on the car, and contains the regulator J.

II is a lighting-circuit on the car, arranged in parallel relation with respect to the motor, and contains electric lamps of any suitable description.

K is the current-collecting device, and is arranged above the car, and consists of an upwardly-extending arm or conductor M, pivoted on a transverse axis on a frame L, journaled on a vertical axis Z, secured to the roof of the car G.

N is an electromagnetic contact device, and consists of contact-wheels O, of which there may be one or more, having their axles '2' coupled together by cores I, around which are arranged coils p of insulated 'wire. One terminal of the coils I is connected with the cores or with the contacts 0, while the other terminal of the several coils is connected to the motor-circuit I. The electro-magnetic device N is provided with a link R, flexibly connected by a spring on with the upwardly-extending collector-arm M. p

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 several coutact-wheels O of iron are employed, and they are hinged together by the cores, so that each may be moved independent of the other to ride over obstructions and at all times maintain an actual contact.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 I have a horseshoe-magnet the poles of which are grooved to receive the conductor, and said horseshoe-magnet is pivoted or loosely connected to the upwardly-extending arm M.

In the case of Fig. 6 I have an ordinary straight magnet,one pole of which is grooved to receive the conductor, while the other pole is connected to the upwardly-extendin g arm M. It is evident that in place of the arm M a flexible conductor may be employed. The ;weight of the arm M may be sustained by alspring s,or,if desired,by means of a solenoid 1T, secured to frame L, and a curved core S, secured to the arm M, and which solenoid is preferably in the motor-circuit I. The regulator J is so arranged that when the motor is cut out of circuit a shunt-circuit If is closed around the motor, and preferably includes a portion of the resistance of the regulator, so as to insert a given resistance to the current passing through the electromagnetic contact device to prevent any possibility of destruction from heat due to a too great flow of current.

I do not-limit myself to any particular details of construction, and in place of an electro-magnetic contact an ordinary magnetic contact may be employed, in which a pcrmanent magnet would be used. If desired, the cores of the contact device may be permanent magnets while employing the coils for increasing the magnetism thereof.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, and an electromagnetic current-collecting device moving with the car and making a traveling connection with the conductor.

2. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collecting device moving with the car and making a traveling connection with the conductor, the said electro-magnetic device consisting of a magnetic core having guides for traveling along the conductor, and a magnetizing coil or coils surrounding the core and receiving current from the conductor.

3. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collecting device moving with the ear and making a traveling connection with the conductor, the said electro-magnetic device consisting of a magnetic core having guides for traveling along the conductor, and a magnetizing coil or'coils surrounding the core and receiving current from the conductor and connected in series with the motor.

4. The combination. of a railway, a conductor of magnetic metal arranged along the railway, a traveling car, a contact for the conductor having an iron core, a magnetizing-coil surrounding the core to energize it to hold to the conductor, and a connection between the contact and ear.

5. The combination of a railway, a conductor of magnetic metal arranged along the railway, a traveling car, a contact for the conductor having an iron core, a magnetizingeoil surrounding the core to energize it to hold to the conductor, a connection between the contact and car, an electric motor to propel the car, and an electric circuit including the motor and magnetizing-coil of the contact.

(3. The combination of a railway, a conductor of magnetic metal arranged along the railway, a traveling car, a contact for the conductor having an iron core, a magnetizingcoil surrounding the core to energize it to hold to the conductor, a connection between the contact and car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electric circuit including the motor and magnetizing-coil of the contact, and a shunt-circuit around the motor for the passage of current when the motor is cut out of circuit.

IIO

7. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an

.with the car and making a travelingconnection with the conductor, the said electro-masrnetic device consisting of a magnetic core having guides for traveling along the conductor,a

fimagnetizing coil or coils surrounding the core and receiving current from the conductor, and a shunt-circuit around the motor for the passage of current employed to energize the electro-magnetic current-collecting device .when the motor is cut out of circuit.

9. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collecting device moving with the car and making a traveling connection with the conductor, the said electro-mag- .netic device consisting of a magnetic core having guides for traveling along the con.- ductor, a magnetizing coil or coils surrounding the core and receiving current from the conductor and connected in series with the motor, and a shunt-circuit around the motor for the passage of current employed to energize the electro-magnetic current-collecting device when the motor is cut out of circuit.

10. The combination of a railway, a working-conductor of iron arranged alongthe railway, a supply-conductor of copper connected at intervals with the working-conductor, a source of electric supply connecting with the supply-conductor, a car, and an electro-magneticcurrent-collecting device making a traveling contact with the working-conductor.

11. The combination of a railway, a working-conductor of iron arranged along the railway, a supply-conductor of copper connected at intervals with the working-conductor, a source of electric supply connecting with the supply-conductor, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic currentcollector making a contact with the workingconductor, a regulator, a motor-circuit including the regulator and collector, and a shuntcircuit around the motor, whereby the current-collector may be magnetized when the motor is cut out.

12. The combination of a railway, a working-conductor of iron arranged along the railway, a supply-conductor of copper connected at intervals with the working conductor, a

source of electric supply connecting with the supply-conductor, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic currentcollector making a contact with the workingconductor, a regulator, a motor-circuit including the regulator and collector, a shunt-circuit around the motor, and controlling-switch for closing the shunt-circuit upon the regulator being used to interrupt the current passing to the motor, whereby the currentcollector may be magnetized when the motor is cut out. v

13. The combination of a railway, a working conductor of iron arranged along the railway,asupply-conductorofcopperconnected at intervals with the working-conductor, a source of electric supply connecting with the supplyconductor, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic current-collector making a contact with the working-conductor, a regulator, a motor-circuit including the regulator and collector, a shunt-circuit around the motor, a controlling-switch for closing the shunt-circuit upon the regulator being used to interrupt the current passing to the motor, and a connection between the shunt-switch and regulator, so that they are simultaneously operated, whereby the current-collector may be magnetized when the motor is cut out.

14:. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of mag'netizable metal, acar, an electric motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic current-collecting device moving wit-l1 the car and making atraveling connection with the conductor, a regulator, a motor-circuit including the regulator and collector, and a shunt-circuit around theimotor, whereby the current-collector may be magnetized when the motoris cut out.

15. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic current-collecting device moving with the car and making atraveling connection with the conductor, a regulator, a motor-circuit including the regulatorand collector, a shunt-circuit around the motor, and a controlling-switch for closing the shunt-circuit upon the regulator being used to interrupt the current passing to the motor, whereby the current-collector may be magnetized when the motor is cut out.

16. In an electric railway, the combination of a conductor-of magnetizable metal, a car, an electric motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collecting device moving with the car and making a traveling connection with the conductor, a regulator, a motorcircuit including the regulator and collector, a sh Lint-circuit around the motor, a controllingswitch for closing the shunt-circuit upon the regulator being used to interrupt the current passing to the motor, and a connection between the shnnt-switch and regulator, so that they may be simultaneously operated, where by the current-collector may be magnetized when the motor is cut out.

17. The combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal arranged along a railway, a traveling car, a motor to propel the car, an electro-magnetic current-collector held to the conductor by mechanism, a regulator'for the motor, a motor-circuit including the regulator, collector, and motor, a shunt-circuit around the motor including the collector, a switch to close the shunt-circuit when the motor is cut out of circuit, and a resistance interposed in the shunt-circuit.

18. The combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal ar 'anged along a railway, a traveling car, a motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collector held to the conductor by magnetism, a regulator for the motor, a motor-circuit including the regulator, collector, and motor, a shunt-circuit around the motor including the collector, a switch to close the shunt-circuit when the motor is cut out of circuit, a resistance interposed in the shunt-circuit, and a connection between the shunt-switch and regulator, whereby when the regulator increases the resistance in the motor-circuit the shunt-resistance is increased.

19. The combination of a conductor of magnetizable metal arranged along a railway, a traveling car, a motor to propel the car, an electromagnetic current-collector held to the conductor by magnetism, a regulator for the motor having a variable resistance, a motor circuit including the regulator, collector, and motor, a shunt-circuit around the motor including the collector, and a switch to close the shunt-circuit when the motor is out out of circuit and insert a part of the resistance of the regulator in the shunt-circuit.

20. The combination of a railway, a suspended conductor of magnetic material, a car, and a current-collecting device consisting of an electro-magnetic contact held to the conduct-or by magnetic action and connected by a flexible or movable conductor with the car.

21. The combination of a railway, a suspended conduetor extending along the railway and formed of magnetic material, a car, an electro-magnetic contact device held to the conductor by magnetic action, and an upwardly-extending arm connected to the car at one end and to the contact device at the other or free end and laterally movable at its free end.

22. The combination of a railway, a suspended conductor extending along the railway and formed of magnetic material, a car, an electromagnetic contact device held to the conductor by magnetic action, and an upwardly-extending arm connected to the car at one end and to the contact device at the other or free end and vertically movable at its free end.

23. The com Jination of a railway, a suspended conductor extending along the railway and formed of magnetic material, a car, an electro-magnetic contact device held to the conductor by magnetic action, and an upwardly-extending arm connected to the car at one end and to the contact device at the other or free end and laterally and vertically movable at its free end.

2%. The combination of a railway, a suspended conductor extending along the railway and formed of magnetic material, a car, an electro-magnetic contact device held to the conductor by magnetic action, an upwardly-extending arm connected to the car at one end and to the contact device at the other or free end and vertically movable at its free end, and means to hold said arm in an upright position wit-h an elastic action.

The combination of a railway, a suspended conductor extending along the railway and formed of magnetic material, a car, an electromagnetic contact device held to the conductor by magnetic action, an upwardly-extending arm connected to the car at one end and to the contact device at the other or free end and vertically movable at its free end, and means to hold said arm in an upright position with an elastic action, consisting of an electro-m agnetic device carried close to the car.

26. The combination of a suspended condoctor extending along a railway, a traveling car, an upwardlyextending current-collector making a contact with the conductor, and an electro-magnetic device for holding the current-collector in an upright position with freedom of vertical movement.

27. The combination of a suspended conductor extending along a railway, a traveling car, an upwardly-exten(ling current-collector making a contact with the conductor and pivoted to the car on a vertical axis, and an electromagnetic device for holding the current-collector in an upright position with freedom of vertical and lateral movement.

28. A Gilllel'llJ-COllGCtOl' consisting of an upwardlyextending arm having a contact at its upper or free end and hinged at its lower end with provision for vertical movement of its free end, a frame pivoted on a vertical axis and supporting the collector-arm, and an electro-magnetie device carried upon the pivoted frame and acting upon the collector-arm to hold it in an upright position.

29. A magnetic contact device consisting of two or more wheels of iron loosely connected to each other by magnets, and a flexi ble or loosely-connected conductor leading from said electromagnetic contact device to a car.

30. An electro-magnetic contact device consisting of two or more contact-wheels of iron combined with cores loosely hinged to the axles of the wheels, coils of wire surrounding the said cores, having one terminal electrically connected with the contact-wheels and the other terminal connected with a circuit leading from the contact device to the vehicle.

31. In a current-collector device for an electrio railway,an electro-magnet having its pole 1 In testimony of which invention I have formed with a groove for receiving the conhereunto set my hand. ductor and to which one terminal of the coil I v T of the magnet is electrically connected and HUNTER in which the other terminal of the coil is conlVitnesses. nected by a flexible conduct-or with the vehi- ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, cle to which electricity is to be supplied. A. J. DUNN. 

